 Poster: A snowHead
|
| cathy wrote: |
| And no point doing it the end of the season. |
I'm not so sure about that. I think a good lesson is a good lesson, no matter when in the season it takes place. Unless you forget everything over the summer and have to start again in December 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
rob@rar.org.uk, very true - badly phrased on my part. I should have said - to get maximum benefit for next season's skiing, best to do it at the start of the season 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
rob@rar.org.uk, I can't help but think of our 'steady, but not uneventful' progress off piste through forests and under lifts last season, when you write things like that
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
IncogSkiSno, cathy, I'm definitely thinking about that week too. Are you both doing the package? I think it's expensive as usually, if you wait until the last minute, they're almost giving away accommodation in early December. Can you give me some info on the rooms situation? Do they pair up people? Are there single rooms? Do they cost twice as much? (Can you tell I'm from Yorkshire?  )
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
slikedges, excellent report, I have been looking for tuition like this for ages. And this looks interesting - its in english, a reputable instructor Phil Smith, and there is a big variety of courses.
I spoke with Phil Smith earlier on today and tried to guage my requirements - basically a need to get over the " intermedate zone " and ski off-piste. It is so easy to fall into a comfort zone which is what has happened to my skiing since I started in 1995. I have asked for a brochure - currently not yet printed for 2006/07 - and I am seriously thinking of booking, but only 31 January 2007 ( my busy period ends then ). But as its off-piste, I really need to take fitness a lot more seriously, as in the few occasions that I ventured off-piste, I found myself streached. Most of the resorts are French and there is also Gressoney in the Italian Valle D'Aoste. Looks interesting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
hibernia, if you haven't already looked, have a look on their website - they don't have anything in their brochure which isn't on their website. If you look under Planner you'll see their schedule for next season.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
snowbabes (well I hope that's better than the normal form of address you get from Masque )
| Quote: |
| I am beginning to realise that this is not just a jolly jaunt round the mountains.....not too much of the 'follow-me' style of tuition |
is quite right. I went on Phil's Backcountry course this March and it was probably the best, most fun but also most intense tuition I've had. Phil himself is incredibly enthusiastic and a wonderful motivator, and Emma's in the same mould - so they'll soon get you doing things you never dreamt you could do. I think your course is only half day sessions though, so you can relax a bit during the other half day (provided you do your homework ).
As for the evening stuff, I expect you'll get a presentation of "the gospel according to Phil" on the first night. Another night we had an avalanche awareness presentation (although I doubt you'll have that), and on the others we had playback and analysis of videos taken of us during the day  . This usually happened just before dinner, and after plenty of time for a dip/sauna, so not too pressured - and plenty of time for the odd lotion during and after the meal. You'll have a ball!
hibernia, I went on the Gressoney one this year. It can be pretty challenging depending on the snow conditions - we were skiing crud and breakable crust nearly all week, and I think that's fairly typical. We all (with the possible exception of one guy who was essentially BASI-2 level and was disgustingly good already) came out of it having learned a lot. I'm 90% certain I'll do it again next year. I don't want to put you off, but if you're only just getting into off-piste, the all-terrain course may be a better choice - although I'm sure you'd have got good advice from Phil directly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GrahamN, Thanks for that, sounds good to me . . . and THANKS! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
I have just been reading this thread about Phil's bro's course in Saas Fee, and I wouldn't mind trying that too. What worries me is the criteria for Warren's Level 4, it's not the same as Phil's
|
Are Phil and Warren related?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
| BOD wrote: |
| Quote: |
I have just been reading this thread about Phil's bro's course in Saas Fee, and I wouldn't mind trying that too. What worries me is the criteria for Warren's Level 4, it's not the same as Phil's
|
Are Phil and Warren related? |
No. Smith is quite a popular surname
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
cathy, thanks for that link - there are indeed lots of courses available and it looks that there are sufficient numbers to break the groups down. I think that I am a 4-5 on that grading.
GrahamN, thanks for that advice - yes I agree, Gresonney is probably to be savoured at another time. It looks like the " All terrain " is the most appropriate course for me as an early off-pister. I am also looking at the SCGB's annual introduction to powder in Flaine but have not got the dates for that yet. It looks like Meribel or Courchevel with Phil Smith on 27th January or 4th February, either date is ideal for me. Plenty of time to decide. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
hibernia, I've done the All Terrain course in Courchevel a few times. Loads of fun, quite demanding, great atmosphere in class and in the hotel. Thoroughly recommended!
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
|
|
|
|
IncogSkiSno, cathy, not just a jolly jaunt though jolly it is, so getting fit is a top idea, I didn't and paid the price though a half-day course shouldn't be as much of a problem fitness wise
hibernia, go for it, you won't regret it!
For my part will almost certainly do one of the courses at some point over the season but not sure when yet. Wanted to do race or off piste but March is the best (though not only poss) time for me and need to go somewhere with top kids' tuition too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Can anyone tell me why these courses only seem to be on awkward dates ?
Warren Smith has courses in Summer time. You have to knock it on the head after lunch.
Warren Smith even does indoor slope days in the UK in Summer. Blow that for a game of soldiers !
What do these people do during the season proper ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Latchigo, Snoworks run courses from November to April, plus a few weeks in May, July and a Southern Hemisphere trip in August. They seem to take a break over Christmas/New Year and sometimes during the busy period in February. Plenty to choose from...
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
hibernia, the SCGB Flaine courses are also great, although probably start and stop at a slightly lower level than the Snoworks courses. I went on nominally one of their Silver grade courses in 2003, which ended up being essentially a Purplish level week as that's sort of where we all were (final grades IIRC ranged from S/P up to P+). Yann is just as much fun as Phil, and of course also a fantastic skier, although much more laid back personally, and the course is probably less intense. If the courses I went on are typical examples, the SCGB one is much smaller (we were only 6, but it's normally up to 16, vs about 40 for the Snoworks course), but has probably a narrower (i.e. more targetted) ability range. This works well due to the SCGB grading scheme - fewer people self-appraising - but it does mean there's less opportunity for switching between groups if you/they have got the initial grading wrong.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GrahamN, again thanks for that Graham. I like to have the option to go up or down in groups as being essentaily new to off-piste proper its difficult to guage the general standard, fitness etc required. Certainly if the majority in a SCGB smaller group turn out to be purpulish standard I do not want to get into a sitiuation where I " may " struggle. With Phil, there are more groups, I get the impression that it is easier to go up or down. Anyways he rang me back today and I am now more or less commited to going with Snoworks. End of January 2007 fits in with my available dates - so its either Meribel or Courchevel with the former the most likely. Your're right regarding Gressoney, is for another day, he more or less said that to me. Have requested some of last year's brochures and will probably book it early next week.
Well anyways, now for a fitness program 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I am hoping to do the all day all-terrain course in March 2007. However I am concerned that my skiing is not strong enough. I have been for 1 week in Obergurgl last year following on from a lot of lessons on a dry slope. I went to ski school each day and on the last afternoon had a private lesson which included a couple of black runs and the rest were reds. Snoworks web page says that for their level 4 you have to be able to ski reds at a good pace. I'm planning on having some more dry slope lessons and go to Braehead a bit before next March, maybe also some skiing in Scotland if there is any snow. Does this sound feasible or am I deluding myself. Thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
ianmacd, I was unsure about my ability too. I would suggest that you do as I did, ring Phil and have a chat with him, he'll be only to happy to help you. If you ring the booking number they should give you Phil's mobile number.
Good luck! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ianmacd, ringing Phil Smith would be a good idea (although is is skiing in Chile until the end of the month). At a guess I'd say that one week's experience plus lots of time on artificial slopes might be a bit of a problem if you end up on a Snoworks course with relatively few clients and instructors. In this case there might be a majority of reasonably good skiers and no easy way of providing instruction for someone with limited experience. On the other hand I've been on All Terrain courses with Phil where there have been a large number of clients with a wide spread of abilities, but this didn't cause any problems as there were enough instructors booked that week to cater for everyone. As suggested, give Phil a call to discuss it before booking.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
Like cathy I have booked the package for myself and SO, but part of the the holiday experience for me is being with the rest of the group and hopefully having some fun in the evenings 
. I stayed at a chalet hotel where snoworks was running a course, (cheap late deal 
Cathy and I will give you a full account of our week plus 1 day extra 
. Perhaps later on in March 
